Disposable head for a sweeping mop

ABSTRACT

A disposable mophead for a sweeping mop having a paper-plastic backing to which the strands are sewn as a fringe on each side of the backing, at the flat undersurface of the backing, to lie flatly upon a floor when the mop is in use.

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15/229 Primary ExaminerDaniel Blum A47l 13/20 Att0rneyVan Valkenburgh and Lowe s11 1m.c|.....................1.1::3:312:11I. so

22s, 228, 229 AC, 229 552291122 9 BC, 229 HP; 300/21 [56] References Ched ABSTRACT: A disposable mophead for a swee UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/l927 Saul..................

ping mop having a paper-plastic backing to which the strands are sewn as a fringe on each side of the backing, at the flat undersurface of the backing, to lie flatly upon a floor when the mop is in use.

DISPOSABLE HEAD FOR'A SWEEPING MOP Where a comparatively large,';finished fioorsurface is to be kept clean, a sweeping mop is generally preferredto any other type of broom or mop because a sweeping mop can rapidly clean a floor area of particlesand lint without stirring up any dust. The general construction of a sweeping mop includes a of disposable handle, a frame attached to theend of the handle and a mophead secured to the frame: The mophead-of an ordinary sweeping mop consists of a bundle of stringlike -strands which are usually moistened with oil me similar oil-wax treatment and such treatments are available as-commercial preparations. These treated strands are capable of picking up and holding lint, dirt and dustparticles and at the same time, the treatment will polish the floor. After the mopis chargedwith dirt, it is quickly unloaded by shaking it and'dirt, lint and dust will fall away from the mop as into a container providedfor the purpose.

Sweeping mops, though preferred over other types of brooms and mops, still have certainndisadvantages and limitations. For one thing, a mopcannot. remove dirt particles actually sticking to the floor. Another problem resides in difficulties in applying a liquid treatment to themop. Usually the liquid is poured directly onto thelmop and upon the exposed ends of the strands; however, after .a mop has been used for awhile, these exposed strand ends become filled with wax and dirt accumulations to the point where they will no longer receive and absorb the treatment. i

' A further problem in mop construction and use resides in the fact that in use, the strands of the mophead tangle and form a comparatively thick head-which reduces the effective surface area of the mop. Although-the thick mopheadmay then appear to have a large dirt-retaining capacity, actually the capacity is reduced. This is easily demonstrated by separating the tangle of strands after the mop has been used for a period of time. The strands are stained only at their exposed ends where they pick up .dirt. The portions of the strands which are within the mop and which are concealed are clean. This indicates that these interior portions of the strands are performing no function other than-possibly retaining some treatment liquid and contributing to the bulk of the mop. A comparison of effective cleaning and holding surfaces of the strands of a mophead with the total available surfaces would I suggest that a conventional'mop is quite inefficient.

The need to improve the efficiency of a mophead has become quite significant where replaceable mopheads are used in large quantities for commercial purposes. Two types of replaceable mopheads are available; a washable type and a disposable type. In either type, the mophead includes a strong cloth backing to carry the strands andIin the washable type, tightly woven stringsor strands are preferred so the strands will not unravel when the head-is washed in an automatic washer. Such a mophead may be difficult to charge with a treatment liquid and is not completely effective in picking'up dirt particles. On the other hand, disposable, throwaway types of mopheadsmay be made with selected types of softer strandswhich will receive treatment and aremore effective in picking up dirt- However, a inopheadmadeof such strands disposable mopheadhaving selected soft strands sewn to abacking of a paper-plastic laminate instead of cloth, and, in a modified arrangement, a mophead wherein the strands areof shredded, paperlike material. Both arrangements provide for economical and functionally effective mopheads.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved, disposable mophead which is a low-cost article that is fully competitive with washabletypes of mopheads and which can be advantageously thrown away and replaced when it is no longer serviceable.

Another object of the'invention is to provide a novel and improved, disposable 'mophead having a substantially rigid backing formed by a paper-plastic laminate, and which can be" easily fitted to and securely'held on a conventional mop frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved, disposable mophead wherein the strands are rangement which effectively exposes the entire reach of each strand when the mop is in use, and at the same time, minimizes the tendency for the strands to tangle and produces a maximum pickup power for the number of strands on the mophead.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mophead having the strands firmly affixed to the undersurface of thebacking in an arrangement which permits each strand to receive a treatment of oil and/or wax throughout its entire reach.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a novel and improved mophead which has a firm, unyielding section of strands secured to the backing surface which may be pressed against the floor surface to remove dirt sticking to the floor and to rub out stains such as heel marks.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a novel and defined in the appended claims, and illustrated inpreferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG.-l is a perspective view of the lower end of a conventional sweeping mop showing the improved head mounted upon the frame in an ordinary manner, the view depicting the head as in its usual position when lying flatly upon a floor.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the upper surface of the mophead per se.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the undersurface of the mophead per se.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view as taken from the indicated-line 4-4 at FIG. 2, but on an enlarged-scale and illustrating the mophead structure in a diagrammatic manner.

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the head as being incompletewith portions pulled out of position to better depict the manner in which it is manufactured.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view' of a fragment of a fringe of strands used in the improved mophead.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the underside of a fragment of a mophead showing the fringe of strands illustrated atFlG. 6, a fragment of the backing sheet whereto the fringe is sewn and an end of a mophead frame wire in its normal position.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 6, but showing a" fragment of a fringe of paperlike strands for use in a modified construction of the mophead.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows the lower endof a sweeping mop consisting of a conventional,

rectangular, elongated frame F and the improved rnophead 'l'l mounted upon the frame. This frame F includes a central base 20 which holds a swiveled connector 21 which, in turn, supports the ferrule 22 of a mop handle 23. The mop'frarne F is shown asa heavy wire 24, but it may also be a flat, narrow board or plate.

The size of these frames vary, but they are generally standardized. The frames are available in widths from 3 to 6 inches and may be from I to 6 feet long. Because they are standardized, the mopheads furnished by one company can fit upon frames supplied by competitive companies. Thus, it is contemplated that the improved mophead described herein can be manufactured in several varying sizes for use with any of several different types of frames available on the market.

The mophead H includes a backing and a strand base 40 secured to the bottom surface of the backing. The mophead backing 30, in conventional arrangements, is a heavy, sturdy, canvaslike cloth having pockets at its upper face to hold it upon the frame. The strand base 40, in conventional arrangements, is formed of an array of comparatively short lengths of stringlike fibers of cotton or rayon affixed to the underside of the backing in various ways as by tufting.

The improved mophead H uses a backing 30 of a paperplastic laminate such as that formed by combining an olefin, such as polypropylene, with a paper backing. For example, one type is a laminate of spun-bonded olefin and 70-pound kraft paper. lt was found that not only was this comparatively lightweight laminate sufficiently strong and tear resistant to function as a backing for a mophead, but also that it had substantial rigidity which facilitates holding it upon a mop frame while in use. In using a paper-plastic laminate for a mop backing 30, it was found desirable to orient the sheet with the plastic surface 30a at the underside, adjacent to the strand base 40, as indicated at FIG. 4.

The backing 30 is formed as a rectangular web having its longitudinal edges paralleling the longitudinal edges of a mop frame F upon which it is mounted and a rectangular, central portion 31 of this web is sized to correspond with such a frame. A longitudinal edge strip or flap 32 is provided at each side of this central portion 31 and each flap 32 is folded at the side edges 33 of the central portion 31 to overlie the central portion and to provide elongated, longitudinally disposed pockets 34 which receive the sides of the frame F. Each end of each pocket is closed by two closely spaced rows of stitching 35 extending transversely across the end of the backing. The backing is thus tightly held on the mop frame with each side of the frame fitting into the pockets 34 as illustrated at FIG. 1. To more effectively secure the backing upon the mop frame, tie ribbons 36 are spaced as opposing pairs along the edges 33 of the backing and are stitched in place as hereinafter described. The ends of the ribbons are tied together as illustrated at FIG. 1.

In the construction shown at FIGS. 1 to 6, the strand base 40 is made ofa fringe ofindividual fiber strands 41. This fringe is secured to the underside of the backing 30 by stitching as will be described. One preferred material for the individual strands 41 of this base is a loosely woven, natural or synthetic yarn capable of absorbing liquid mop treatment such as waxcarrying petroleum distillates and thus be capable of effectively picking up particles of dirt and lint. In the construction shown at HO. 8, another preferred material for the strands 41 is shredded strips of a paperlike material as hereinafter described. Because it is to be a disposable-type mophead, the fiber strands can be very loosely spun together and of a type very effective in picking up dirt, but which cannot be laundercd. An excellent, commercially available fiber strand material for a disposable mop is known as No. l, fourply, lightweight, spun rayon mop yarn. This yarn, forming strands 41, is approximately three-sixteenths inch in diameter when in a loose weave or lay.

The strands are sewn together in a side-by-side array by a continuous, longitudinal stitching 42 to form a fringe which is approximately two strands thick. Preferably the stitching is a double row and is best illustrated at FIG. 6. The length of the strands is roughly, approximately the width of the backing 30 and the stitching 42 is at an approximate one-third point to divide the strand base fringe into shorter, inner tufts 43 and longer, outer tufts 44.

A reach of fringe forming a portion of strand base 40 is affixed to the undersurface of the backing 30, along each longitudinal side of the backing, with the center of the fringe being at the side edge 33 of the backing. The inner tufts 43 of the two opposing reaches of fringe thus terminate at the approximate longitudinal centerline of the backing and approximately one-half of the outer tufts 44 of each reach of the fringe projects from each side of the base as illustrated. The outer tufts 44 of each reach of fringe are then sewn to the underside of the central portion 31 of the backing by a double row of stitching 45 paralleling the adjacent stitching row 42 and having its outward stitches at the longitudinal edge 33. To accomplish this sewing operation, the flaps 32 are in an unfolded, out-of-the-way position, as suggested at FIG. 5 and hereinafter described.

Each end of the mop includes a transverse reach of fringe strands 46 to finish off the strand base 40. The end fringe strands 46 are provided by turning a projecting portion of the fringe at either side of the backing as illustrated and as indicated by arrows A at FIG. 5. These projecting fringe ends are stitched in place by thc transverse stitching 35 heretofore described.

It is to be noted that the double stitching rows 42 and 45, in their side-by-sidc arrangement, will materially firm the portion of the strands between them and form a substantially flat, padded section 47 of strands as best illustrated at FIG. 7. This padded section is directly underneath the frame wire 24 and accordingly, it may be pressed against a floor surface. This permits the mop to be used for rubbing or scouring when necessary to loosen dirt sticking to the floor or remove a stain such as a heel mark.

it is also to be noted that the strands 41 are efficiently arranged to normally lie in the plane of the backing and thus a major portion of each strand will lie flatly upon the floor when the mop is in use. Accordingly, a minimum number of strands will cover a maximum floor surface and pick up a maximum amount of dirt. Moreover, the strands 41, being comparatively few, will not tangle and mat to any substantial extent.

A further advantage of the improved, disposable mophead resides in the manner in which treatment may be applied to the strands. The treatment, which may be an oil or a mixture of oil and waxes, is ordinarily applied as a liquid to soak into the strand fibers. It was found that by placing the mophead in an upside-down position such as illustrated at FIG. 3 and at FIG. 7 to expose the padded section 47, the treatment could be poured directly upon this padded section and the treatment liquid would then soak through the fibers of the strands 41 in either direction to effectively saturate these strands.

This improved mophead can be manufactured with simple, easily available machinery at a very moderate cost. To set up a production line, one or two fringing machines may be used to sew the strands 41 together as a fringe heretofore described, by the offset stitching row 42 as illustrated at FIG. 6. Next, the fringing is sewn to a web of a selected paper-plastic laminate which may be provided as a continuous roll having a width suitable for the purpose at hand. As this web is payed from its roll, it is cut to the proper lengths and two strips of fringing are sewn into place along each side of the web as by stitching 45. The length of each fringe strip is greater than that of the web section to provide transverse fringe ends 46 and the final steps are to fold over the longitudinal edges of the web to form pockets 34 and then to turn the ends of the fringe strips to sew them in place, by stitching 35. It is to be noted that the ribbons 36 may be positioned near each end of the web and sewn into place as the fringes are sewn to the web by stitching 45.

Should rapid manufacturing operations for these mopheads be desired, two fringing machines may continuously form the fringing for each side of the mophead which is moved in position with respect to a roll of webbing so that the stitching 45 onto the webbing is continuous with ribbons 36 being positioned at selected spacings along the reach of the web. This continuous reach may then be rerolled for storage, if desired, or cut into selected lengths and thereafter, the transverse together by a stitching row 42. The strands are of a width of approximately one-eighth inch. The shredded paper strands, narrow, elongate strips of paper, are necessarily tough and absorbent. The preferred material for these paperlike strands is generally known as nonwoven cloth. Such a product is formed by comparatively long fibers secured together by a suitable resin. One such product is, for example, Webril, manufactured by Kimberly Clark of Waukesha, Wisconsin. The desirable properties of this paperlike, nonwoven cloth resides in the fact that it is tough and strong with a substantial wet strength and it also has a short, knapped surface and is capable of absorbing a floor treatment material. The commercial material Webril, is characterized by a surprising degree of strength for a paperlike product in one direction which may be referred to as a longitudinal direction, and only moderate strength in a direction transverse thereto. Accordingly, when the strands are cut from this paper, they are oriented with respect to the aforesaid longitudinal direction so that the strands will resist breaking even through they may be torn apart into narrower strands through rough usage.

This fringe of flat, paper strips of improved strand material is especially suitable for attachment to a paper backing, with the stitching row 42 being at an approximate third point of the strands to divide the strand base into inner tufts 43 and outer tufts 44, precisely in the manner heretofore described, to provide a final product substantially the same as that heretofore described. Moreover, the nonwoven cloth material proves to be exceptionally effective in holding a treatment liquid and in picking up dirt during a mopping operation.

I have now described my invention in considerable detail. However, it is obvious that others skilled in the art can build and devise alternate and equivalent constructions which are nevertheless within the spirit and scope of my invention.

lclaim:

1. A disposable mophead for a sweeping mop adapted to be mounted upon a flat, rectangular mop frame and comprising, in combination:

a. an elongated paper-plastic laminate backing member formed as a rectangular sheet, having a central portion sized to underlie the mop frame and having longitudinal edge portions overfolding the sides of the central portion to form longitudinally disposed pockets adapted to receive the edges of the mop frame; b. a fringe of strands having the general characteristics of mop yarn at the underside, and at each side of the backing member, the length of the strands in each fringe approximating the width of the backing member and with each fringe being sewn to the central portion of the backing member by a longitudinal stitching with approximately one-half of each strand laterally projecting from the longitudinal edge of the backing member; and

c. a transverse stitching at each end of the backing member adapted to secure the overlying edge portions of the backing member to form the ends of the aforesaid pockets. 2. In the mophead defined in claim 1, including a transversely disposed reach of fringe strands at each end of the backing member secured thereto by the aforesaid transverse stitching.

3. In the mophead defined in claim I, wherein each fringe of strands is sewn to the undersurface of the central portion of the backing member adjacent to the longitudinal edge thereof.

4. In the mophead defined in claim 1, wherein each fringe of strands is sewn together by a longitudinal stitching at an approximate one-third point of the fringe at the inward portion underlying the backing member and wherein said fringe is sewn to the undersurface of the backing member by stitching at the approximate center of the fringe and adjacent to the aforesaid sides of the central portion whereby to provide a compacted portion of the fringe of strands between the stitching forming the strands and the stitching at the edge of the backing member.

5. In the mophead defined in claim 1, wherein said fringe of strands is formed as a yarn of a nylonlike fiber.

6. In the mophead defined in claim 1, wherein the fringe of strands is formed as strips of a paperlike material.

7. in the mophead defined in claim 6, wherein the flat, paperlike, fringe strands are formed of a nonwoven cloth. 

1. A disposable mophead for a sweeping mop adapted to be mounted upon a flat, rectangular mop frame and comprising, in combination: a. an elongated paper-plastic laminate backing member formed as a rectangular sheet, having a central portion sized to underlie the mop frame and having longitudinal edge portions overfolding the sides of the central portion to form longitudinally disposed pockets adapted to receive the edges of the mop frame; b. a fringe of strands having the general characteristics of mop yarn at the underside, and at each side of the backing member, the length of the strands in each fringe approximating the width of the backing member and with each fringe being sewn to the central portion of the backing member by a longitudinal stitching with approximately one-half of each strand laterally projecting from the longitudinal edge of the backing member; and c. a transverse stitching at each end of the backing member adapted to secure the overlying edge portions of the backing member to form the ends of the aforesaid pockets.
 2. In the mophead defined in claim 1, including a transversely disposed reach of fringe strands at each end of the backing member secured thereto by the aforesaid transverse stitching.
 3. In the mophead defined in claim 1, wherein each fringe of strands is sewn to the undersurface of the central portion of the backing member adjacent to the longitudinal edge thereof.
 4. In the mophead defined in claim 1, wherein each fringe of strands is sewn together by a longitudinal stitching at an approximate one-third point of the fringe at the inward portion underlying the backing member and wherein said fringe is sewn to the undersurface of the backing member by stitching at the approximate center of the fringe and adjacent to the aforesaid sides of the central portion whereby to provide a compacted portion of the fringe of strands between the stitching forming the strands and the stitching at the edge of the backing member.
 5. In the mophead defined in claim 1, wherein said fringe of strands is formed as a yarn of a nylonlike fiber.
 6. In the mophead defined in claim 1, wherein the fringe of strands is formed as strips of a paperlike material.
 7. In the mophead defined in claim 6, wherein the flat, paperlike, fringe strands are formed of a nonwoven cloth. 